How many improvement projects can you handle at once?

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It is an interesting challenge; how many continuous improvement projects can you handle at once?

A better question is "how many projects should you handle at once?"

I see many businesses struggling with their continuous improvement projects, especially after a Christmas break. Energies have returned. Focus is restored. A long list of things that need to be done refreshed.

The problem that I observe is that many projects get started and few get finished.

I use the word problem for three reasons:
  1. If you don't complete the projects you are unlikely to reap the rewards.
  2. Incomplete projects cause confusion amongst team members.
  3. Having a list of projects started, but not finished, can be demoralising after a while.
There are conflicting demands on our time. We often have a day job to do. If you combine this with incomplete project definitions then you have a recipe for wasting a lot of time and resource.

So, what is a practical way to approach this dilemma?

Pick one project and complete it.

Yes, it can be that simple.

Don't overthink this. Tackle one project at a time and then move to the next one. As you complete more projects, feel free to expand the number of projects you handle at any one point in time. Pull this number back in line with the stress and strain of business life.

This strategy can work wonders if you are feeling overwhelmed about the number of projects you have lined up. Getting to one priority can be tough at first but is in itself a good exercise. If you want a free tool to help with your project prioritisation, check out the free account at PDCA Complete. 

Keep your project scopes clear (and easy to understand) and enjoy the speed and effectiveness of working on fewer projects at the same time.

About the author:

Giles Johnston is a Chartered Engineer who specialises in helping businesses to grow and improve through better business processes and embracing Kaizen.

Giles is also the author of Effective Root Cause Analysis and 'What Does Good Look Like?'.